"i would love to live like a river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding."
— john o'donohue

Saturday, April 18, 2009

shine on

my dear friends, nicole and quang, made vows of partnership this weekend. i wish so much i could have been there as i have been witness to their lives over the last almost 7 years...a few months ago, they asked me to write a union blessing for their ceremony.so, from my heart to theirs...my deepest wishes for their partnership:

in the words of the vietnamese buddhist monk, thich nhat hanh:"the flower, the sky, and your loved one -- you can only meet in the present moment."

dearest nicole and quang:

may your bond of love be rooted in true presence.every moment seeing each other anew.creating space for the river of change that naturally flows through all of life. may a vast, open heart of understanding and compassion flower at the center of your beings.may you hold one another gently, with a fierce grace and ease.by cultivating well being and peace inside of yourselves, may you love in such a way that both of you feel a deep sense of freedom in your hearts.the dance of playfulness and pure joy that you have been perfecting over the years together, may it shine on like a sparkling jewel, spreading delight, as ripples across the water, to all whose lives you touch.and may the beauty you create as partners in your daily life fill your hearts with wonderment and gratitude for the experience of being alive.may your devotion to truth and reverence of the great mystery guide your moments from a deep, centered place within. and may you always, always know how deeply you are loved.

the sufi poet, hafiz, writes:

"even after all this timethe sun never says to the earth,'you owe me'look what happens with a love like that,it lights the whole sky."

MWAH!! i send you both so much love...a candle has been burning brightly in korea in honor of you on this day.

1 comment:

What a beautiful gift for your friends. I think my favourite lines are:

the dance of playfulness and pure joy that you have been perfecting over the years together, may it shine on like a sparkling jewel, spreading delight, as ripples across the water, to all whose lives you touch.and may the beauty you create as partners in your daily life fill your hearts with wonderment and gratitude for the experience of being alive.

They inspire me with regards to who I want to be and what I want to create in my current relationship.

Bodhisattva:

About Me

2007-2008: ...and so, for her thirtieth year, she is embarking upon a pilgrimage abroad...teaching english at a university in south korea, making her way to ancient buddhist temples nestled high in the mountains where monks and nuns rise early to chant and pray, relying on the kindness of strangers and a lightness of heart, and meeting challenges and fears along the way that she is ever-so-ready to befriend.
2008-2009: ...and now, for a second year, she is returning to korea....to her high rise sanctuary and an abundance of red pepper paste...to a vibrant, growing community of friends, students and colleagues...to not a day going by without some measure of surprise and unexpected kindness.
herein lies her journey...